Blogs from Kolkata, West Bengal, India, Asia - page 41

Well we have now been in the wonderful India for 3 days, and thus far we are loving it! We are in Kolkata (Calcutta) staying at the finest hotel I have ever seen, rediculous actually. (dont worry Brady we are just it is very reasonable!). Anyways, the people are incredible. In comparison to China there seem to be many more people everywhere, which is amazing in itself since we thought China was a busy place! The food is so good that we can feel ourselves expanding but cant help but savour every bite. Nothing but good things to say so far. That is all for now... we are off to enjoy more scents and sweets (Kolkata is the sweet capital of the world, no wonder we are in heaven!). ... read more

What an adventure to reach this metropole! Yesterdayevening we went to the place where the AC Volvo would pick us up. A crew of men had been waiting fo us, cause the bus was broken. "Problem coming"... we told the crew that we really had to reach Kolkotta on the 18th before lunchtime... so the bus on next day wasn't an option. never seen indian men be so active and mental productive... They offered us a trainticket, but they were not sure if seat would still be available. After half an hour of waiting, sitting, spitting, drinking tea and discussing, the men dropped us in an ambassador and a taxidriver took us to the railwaystation... and than, Indian men in action! While we were waiting, somebody came to tell that there was a train in a ... read more

Unbelievable. Humidity and pollution so high that walking the street is like being repeatedly slapped around the face by a warm and rather dirty flannel. And the streets - so hectic they make Mumbai look like Milton Keynes on a quiet Sunday, and Bangalore like Worthing on Sea off-season. The traffic is gridlocked, every pavement is crammed with stalls, touts swoop on you as soon as you stop moving, and the beggars are spectacular. You almost feel like clapping them on the back and saying 'well done'. (But I think that might be in poor taste.) The traffic is an experience in itself. Everything is knackered, from the taxis pouring out black exhaust fumes to the old boys pulling the human powered rickshaws. Forget auto rickshaws. Or bicycle rickshaws. This is the real deal. For a ... read more

We set aside today to ensure we spend time on the raw side of Kolkata; that is, with those who are poor and without. As in so many cities, it is possible never to come in contact with the underbelly of Calcutta, particularly on so short a stay. We set out of our neighbourhood, on the southern end of the city and headed to the subway, intending to head north and stop off further into city centre than we did yesterday. Well, the Metro does not run until 3:00pm on Sundays. Never mind, we lined up for the Bus 47B headed north. Trouble is, the bus never arrives as such; it floats by the intersection, in the centre lane. You signal to the conductor that you want in, he bangs on the side of the bus ... read more

Kolkata, so far, is a pleasant disappointment to us; it does not live up to its advance notice of a chaotic city, down at the heels; at least not seen through the up beat way its people go about their lives. It might be we can be sanguine about the city, because we chose to stay in a neighbourhood rather than centre town, and that we have not made it to downtown proper as yet; it could also be that our first day among the crowds was today, a Saturday. Whatever; our arrival at the Howath train station was orderly; the environs conveyed a sense of ease. As we searched to find our bearings, people thoughtfully offered help: directions, language translations, no-hassle, pre-paid taxi arrangements. The drive, to our guest-house place of stay, took us across ... read more